Our Story
Play On Words Studios was founded by Christopher Mifsud, who grew up in a comic book store and spent 25 years leading game studios around the world. After working on everything from Disney and Dexter to Life is Strange, he wanted to build a studio focused on original IP. Stories with depth, style, and a distinctly personal vision.
We’re proud to call Malta home, with its rich cultural history and vibrant creative scene, as we develop new worlds meant to be shared across the globe.
Our Team
Christopher Mifsud
Christopher Mifsud
Christopher Mifsud
CEO/Creative Director – With 25 years in game development and studio leadership, Christopher has helmed creative teams at Disney, Deck Nine, and beyond. He has led 15 studios across 7 countries and worked on beloved IPs including Dexter, Marvel, and Life is Strange. His vision for Play On Words Studios brings AAA polish to indie storytelling, uniting global talent under a single creative banner.
Stephen Cheney
Christopher Mifsud
Christopher Mifsud
Lead Designer – Stephen brings 17 years of experience designing both tabletop and digital games. Known for systems that balance narrative depth with mechanical elegance, he works closely with Christopher to ensure every game in the Shadow City universe plays as well as it reads. His fingerprints are on everything from TTRPG mechanics to visual novel decision trees.
Brandes Stoddard
Christopher Mifsud
Brandes Stoddard
Lead Writer – With 18 years in the RPG industry, Brandes specializes in character-driven storytelling and worldbuilding that resonates. From tabletop supplements to branching narrative scripts, he collaborates with Stephen and Christopher to shape the voice of Shadow City. The stories are dark, intricate, and deeply human.